Even Mary looked as though she thought it was the right thing to do. But as Will grasped the slick mother-of-pearl handle, he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to use it again. How many people had Colt killed in cold blood with his father’s weapon?
His hands warmed to the feel of the weight of the metal. Oh, he could still use it all right. At least in the dispatching of Ben and his gang.
They couldn’t be allowed to continue their evil. And with Will all but rendered useless, this gun was the only thing standing between them and more crime. He’d tried justice the legal way, so maybe it was time to become everything he’d said he wouldn’t be.
An outlaw.
A heaviness settled on Will’s heart, and he wished he didn’t see Mary’s bright green eyes shining over Jasper’s shoulder. In them, he saw the face of Pastor Lassiter, bringing to mind the words of the Bible and not repaying evil for evil.
He thought of David being pursued by Saul and how David pleaded with the Lord for rescue.
“Lord,” Will said to himself as he closed his eyes. “I’m no David. But I know what I have to do. And I sure hope that what Pastor Lassiter said was right and that you’ll forgive me when this is all over.”
Will’s eyes flew open. Did the Lord forgive premeditated sin? And was it a sin when he was only trying to keep more people from being hurt? If the Lord had only stopped Ben from succeeding in the past, Will wouldn’t be facing these seemingly impossible questions.
If he asked Mary, she’d probably pray for him. Might even be able to give him some of the pastor’s wisdom on how to proceed. But Mary was too good, too pure to know the ugliness lurking in Will’s heart. If she knew the truth about him, she’d never understand.
No, he’d do the best he could do, what he had to do, and in the end, he’d simply hope that God would forgive the depth of his sin.
Chapter Twenty
They waited for what seemed to be ages. No one spoke much, and Mary figured it must be so that no one would overhear. Occasionally, she peeked out Mel’s window and watched the drunken men passing the alley as they walked down the street.
She’d hated this lifestyle for so long. But something in her had softened when she realized that Mel was merely doing the only thing she could do to protect her sister.
Mary glanced at the man snoring on the bed. Colt’s facial hair was scruffy and scraggly, so unlike the neat appearance of a decent man. His boots had smelled like something died in them, and she was certain the rest of the man was just as foul.
Mel entertained men like him for the sake of her sister.
Would Mary do any less?
Once again, Mary stole a glance at Mel. Now that evening was fading, and so too Mel’s meticulously applied paint, Mary saw a girl who couldn’t be all that different than she.
It made her think about her father, and the woman he’d taken up with after arriving in town. Was she like Mel, merely doing the best she could with what she had? She’d kept and cared for her child. Mary could never bear to hear Nugget go on and on about her mama, but now...
Her heart ached as she realized that she’d been denying her half sister the chance to mourn a dearly loved parent. A woman who, aside from her profession, seemed like a decent woman. Like Mel.
Lord, forgive me for judging Nugget’s mama. I don’t know why my father betrayed my mother with her. I don’t know why she took up her profession. But she loved Nugget and was a good mama to her. Help me help her deal with her grief.
Perhaps Mary was the wrong sibling to do right by her sister. After all, she’d failed Rose miserably. Mary took a deep breath. No. She’d rescue Rose, and then she would do better by her sisters. She would be a better example and would devote her life to their loving care. She would make up for her mistakes. Just like she’d always planned.
Mel scooted back in her chair and got up. “Sounds like things have quieted down.”
Mary glanced over at Will, who shrugged. Jasper grinned. She hadn’t been able to talk him into going home to Emma Jane, and Will had finally told her to stop interfering in their business. When this was all over, Mary would go to Emma Jane and do what she could to soothe the poor girl’s feelings.
Mel opened the door and peered out. Then she turned back to the others. “It looks like we’re safe. But I’m going to do some scouting to be sure.”
She hadn’t even closed the door behind her when the men sprang into action. Will removed the gun belt from the still-sleeping Colt. Whatever Mel had given the man, it had definitely worked.
Suddenly, it felt cold in the room, and Mary rubbed her arms. This was really happening. They were going to rescue her sister, and it would take guns to do it.
How could Mary have been so deceived?
How could Rose?
Rose wouldn’t have suspected Ben of anything nefarious, considering he’d already wormed his way into the family’s good graces by claiming engagement to Mary.
But how could Rose have believed he’d fall in love with her so quickly after declaring himself to Mary?
None of this made sense, particularly when Mel returned, carrying two large guns. She held one in Mary’s direction.
“You ever use one of these?”
Mary shook her head. Mel rolled her eyes. “Figures. What about you, pretty boy? Does the son of the richest man in town know how to shoot a gun, or do you get people like Will to do it for you?”
Jasper snatched the gun out of her hand. “Thanks to Will, I’m probably almost as good of a shot as he is.”
“Good.” Mel tossed a look
